Rains kill at least 45 in parts of K-P, FATA

Severe weather hits the country every year, with hundreds killed and huge tracts of farmland destroyed

PESHAWAR: At least 45 people were killed and 17 injured after heavy rain across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA caused the roofs of dozens of homes to collapse, officials said Sunday.

The K-P Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 45 people had died in less than 24 hours as severe weather hit the country on Saturday.



The worst-hit area was Kohistan where 12 deaths were reported, followed by Shangla district where rains and landslides killed 10 people.



Officials said the river Swat was in a medium level flood and people were asked to evacuate from areas near the rived bed as the water levels were continuously rising.

In Mansehra, the district administration said the connecting bridges had been washed away on the River Kunar as a glacier had also moved from its location and blocked the river near Naran.

Flood waters rush through a market area as vendors and resident scramble to save their possessions on the outskirts of Peshawar on April 3, 2016. PHOTO: AFP



“Peshawar has reported 34mm of rain till last night and is still continuing," the regional office of the Met department said.

Connecting roads were blocked in at least six different zones of Hazara and Malakand divisions, mainly because of landslides in glacial area.

The NDMA had issued a weather advisory on March 31 warning of severe weather from Friday to Sunday.

Poorly-built homes, particularly in rural areas, are most susceptible to collapse during heavy spring rains.

Severe weather hits the country every year, with hundreds killed and huge tracts of prime farmland destroyed in recent years.

During the rainy season last summer, torrential downpours and flooding killed 81 people and affected almost 300,000 people across the country.

Prime Minister expresses grief

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of human lives due to floods caused by rains in different parts of K-P.

According to a statement, the prime minister has directed NDMA and other authorities concerned to ensure timely relief activities for the victims, including provision of proper medical care, food and shelter for the affected.